Review: Priceless Weddings for Under 5K (Revised Edition)

Kathleen Kennedy has refreshed her book, Priceless Weddings for Under $5,000. She included more content, updated information, and a stylish new cover which features hand lettering by Alane Gianetti. Just looking at the page count, it's over 100 pages more than her first edition which came out in 2000.

My review is based off the revised edition which was published in 2015. I have not read the original, so I cannot compare the two versions side by side. The book is written in a traditional format of paragraphs and whatnot, but Kennedy also includes checklists, bullet points, tips, questionnaires, real-life wedding examples, and places for notes. I think it is a helpful text when thinking about putting a wedding together. If one of your priorities is budget, this is a book to find. The real-life examples were helpful. The couples shared their wedding priorities, location, budget, and more.

I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review.

Title: Priceless Weddings for Under $5,000 (Revised Edition)
Author: Kathleen Kennedy
ISBN: 9780804185769

Review: The Postage Stamp Vegetable Garden

The Postage Stamp Vegetable Garden: Grow Tons of Organic Vegetables in Tiny Spaces and Containers by Karen Newcomb

The Postage Stamp Vegetable Garden is a best-selling book that has been revised and reprinted. I have not read any previous printings of The Postage Stamp Vegetable Garden, so I cannot compare the 2015 printing with other printings. Newcomb's introduction covers the background of her book and the new addition of heirloom seed varieties.

As a beginner gardening, I gleaned some very helpful information about gardening from this book. I've had an interest in small space and container gardening and The Postage Stamp Garden offers a variety of plants to grown and garden sizes. The first couple chapters share information about soil mixtures, when/how to plant, and watering the garden. Newcomb added illustrations, diagrams, and graphs to help illustrate the text, but the book is word heavy vs. picture heavy. (Don't let that deter you, reader!) The largest chapter focuses on the vegetables and herbs that work the best (and not so best) in a postage stamp garden. It's not just a list of plants in that chapter. The plants listed include information on planing, crop stretching, varieties, harvesting, storage, growing tips, and typical problems. The book ends with chapters and appendixes on companion planting, pests, compost, and seed sources. It's quite an in depth book about a little garden.

I think gardeners of any age or ability will enjoy this title. It's a faster read than I thought it would be. I also appreciated the soft tones in the printed version of this book. The paper is cream instead of white and the text is brown and dark green instead of black. It's natural and calming style book. Thank you, Blogging for Books for this review copy! I cannot wait to try a postage stamp garden this summer.

I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review.

Title: The Postage Stamp Vegetable Garden
Author: Karen Newcomb
Publisher: Ten Speed Press
ISBN:  9781607746836

Review: The Pursuit of Tamsen Littlejohn

The Pursuit of Tamsen Littlejohn by Lori Benton

Tamsen wants to escape. Her step-father is forcing a betrothal and after his harsh treatment, she wants no man her father arranges to wed. She locates a frontiersman, Jesse Bird, to help her flee, but will running overmountain be safer?

Author Lori Benton weaves a fascinating historical tale about finding safety, love, and family. The historical background highlights a little known (or forgotten) piece of American history on the State of Franklin. During that time, many disputes were fought between Carolina and Franklin. It's also a time of civilization, wilderness, settlers, and Native Americans. All in all, the historical elements are imbedded into the tale, but are not the true highlight of this historical tale. Benton's history was well developed and enjoyable. Her end notes were interesting and helpful. I was very happy to read her resources that she used when she researched her novel.

Back to the main storyline, the verb throughout the entire tale is pursuit. Tamsen is pursuing freedom, her step-father and rejected suitor are pursuing Tamsen and her overmountian man, Jesse. In the meantime, Jesse is pursing safety for Tamsen as well as her heart. There are other characters in the settlements and wilderness who are pursuing various people, feelings, and places, but I don't want to give away everything! Faith is sprinkled throughout this piece. It was not forced, but spoken well between believers. They shared their memorized passages and the importance to laying it all in God's hands.

Tamsen's tale is a standalone novel just as Benton's first novel, Burning Sky. If you enjoyed reading Burning Sky, you will enjoy The Pursuit of Tamsen Littlejohn. If you enjoy Colonial history or little known/forgotten history, you'll enjoy this unique novel. Thank you, WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for sharing this title with me. I hope Ms. Benton continues to write more novels!

Time Period: 1787
Location: Watauga settlement, North Caroline, USA

I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review.

Review: Kaki Warner

If you are a fan of Linda Lael Miller's Westerns, I would recommend Kaki Warner's novels. Her first series is the Blood Rose Trilogy set in the New Mexico Territory. Love and hate surround RosaRoja Rancho. The Wilkins brothers inherited the rancho and fight to keep it a safe place for everyone who lives on their land. Ramirez is fighting to reclaim the land his father originally owned. The brothers come and go from their land, but circumstances always bring the siblings home. Family ties are strong and they become stronger with the women they meet during their travels away from RosaRoja.

Blood Rose Trilogy
Book 1 - Pieces of Sky
Book 2 - Open Country
Book 3 - Chasing the Sun

Warner's next series is Runaway Brides. Heartbreak Creek (Book 1) and Colorado Dawn (Book 2) are currently available. Bride of the High Country is coming later this year. I look forward to following Warner's Westerns.



Reviewed from library copies.

Review: Prudence Wants a Pet

Prudence Wants a Pet by Cathleen Daly

Have you desperately wanted a pet? When you are young, it can be difficult to own a pet. Some children beg, whine or cry. Prudence asks - over and over again. Every rejection turns into an opportunity to find her very own, one of kind pet.

I love the creativity of this story. It brings a pet rock to a whole new level. This book would go along well with A Pet for Petunia by Paul Schmid.

Reviewed from a library copy.

Review: Little Miss Austen - Pride & Prejudice

Little Miss Austen: Pride & Prejudice by Jennifer Adams

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


For any reader who enjoys a classic story, please find a copy to read! I never thought I would see a British novel in board book form. I have enjoyed graphic novels created from historic tomes, but this form is quite enjoyable for all ages. I would suggest this counting primer for readers, teachers, librarians and their children. I look forward to reading more classics as board books.

Reviewed from a library copy.